EP2332757A1 - Air conditioning device for vehicle, and method and program for controlling air conditioning device for vehicle - Google Patents
Air conditioning device for vehicle, and method and program for controlling air conditioning device for vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2332757A1 EP2332757A1 EP09819271A EP09819271A EP2332757A1 EP 2332757 A1 EP2332757 A1 EP 2332757A1 EP 09819271 A EP09819271 A EP 09819271A EP 09819271 A EP09819271 A EP 09819271A EP 2332757 A1 EP2332757 A1 EP 2332757A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- air
- conditioned
- zone
- conditioned zone
- solar radiation
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 102
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 9
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 144
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000008447 perception Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000498 cooling water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010257 thawing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
- B60H1/00735—Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
- B60H1/0075—Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models the input being solar radiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
- B60H1/00814—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00007—Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices
- B60H1/00021—Air flow details of HVAC devices
- B60H2001/00185—Distribution of conditionned air
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00007—Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices
- B60H1/00021—Air flow details of HVAC devices
- B60H2001/00185—Distribution of conditionned air
- B60H2001/00192—Distribution of conditionned air to left and right part of passenger compartment
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D23/00—Control of temperature
- G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
- G05D23/27—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means with sensing element responsive to radiation
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F7/00—Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner and to a control method and program for a vehicle air conditioner.
- a vehicle air conditioner has been realized that is capable of independently controlling the temperature of air-conditioned zones, which split a vehicle cabin interior into right and left sides, for example, a driver-seat side and a passenger-seat side, according to preferences of the occupants.
- HVAC Heating Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Systems
- HVAC a vehicle air conditioner that employs an uneven-solar-radiation sensor to independently perform air conditioning for the right and left zones in accordance with uneven solar radiation.
- the blowout temperature and air flow level for the right and left zones are controlled depending on the solar radiation, etc. of the right and left zones.
- Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 01-136811 discloses a technique in which values detected from the right and left air-conditioned zones are compared with a calculated value based on a predetermined calculation, and the larger value of the above-described compared values is used as a correction value to control air conditioning equipment in a vehicle.
- Patent Literature 1 In the invention of the above-described Patent Literature 1, many computations are necessary to obtain the correction value of the air conditioning temperature for the right and left air-conditioned zones, and there is a problem in that processing thereof is complicated. In addition, because the size of the sun is large and its distance from the vehicle is large, the perceived temperature for the occupants does not change even if the direction of the solar radiation is slightly shifted from the center. In spite of this, the invention disclosed in Patent Literature 1 finely controls the air conditioning system even when the direction of the solar radiation shifts slightly from the center, and there is a problem in that the blowout temperature ends up being changed frequently.
- the present invention has been conceived to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle air conditioner that makes it possible to perform air conditioning control matching the perception of vehicle occupants with simple processing, as well as a control method and program for the vehicle air conditioner.
- a first aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a solar radiation sensor that measures solar radiation levels individually for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other; a judging unit that judges whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range; a first controller that performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; and a second controller that performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- the solar radiation sensor individually measures the solar radiation levels of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and the judging unit judges whether or not the difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone measured by the solar radiation sensor falls within the predetermined range.
- the predetermined range identical air conditioning control is performed for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and when the difference falls outside the predetermined range, independent air conditioning control is performed individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone.
- the perception of the solar radiation is nearly equivalent in the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, it is possible not to cause a temperature difference in air conditioning, and, in addition, when the perception of the solar radiation differs between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, it is possible to perform air conditioning control appropriate for the state of air conditioning in each air-conditioned zone.
- the first controller may select the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level as a first reference zone and may perform the air conditioning control of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone on the basis of the solar radiation level of the first reference zone.
- the second controller may select one zone as a second reference zone and may perform the air conditioning control for the other air-conditioned zone on the basis of the solar radiation level of the second reference zone.
- the temperature can be easily corrected.
- the second controller may select the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level as the second reference zone.
- control can be performed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the air-conditioned zone for which the solar radiation level is high and is assumed to feel uncomfortable.
- a second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a solar radiation sensor that is provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and that measures an incident angle of sunlight; a judging unit that judges whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range; a first controller that performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; and a second controller that performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- the solar radiation sensor measures the incident angle of the sunlight near the boundary between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and the judging unit judges whether or not this incident angle falls within the predetermined range.
- the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range
- identical air conditioning control is performed for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range, independent air conditioning control is performed individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone.
- a third aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a step of measuring solar radiation levels individually for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range; a first controlling step of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; and a second controlling step of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner program that is a control program applied to a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, which is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, and that causes a computer to execute judgment processing in which solar radiation levels are individually measured for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and it is judged whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range; first control processing of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; and second control processing of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- a fifth aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a step of measuring an incident angle of sunlight, provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which is adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range; a first controlling step of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; and a second controlling step of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- a sixth aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner program that is a control program applied to a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, which is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, and that causes a computer to execute judgment processing of measuring an incident angle of sunlight, provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range; first control processing of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; and second control processing of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- the present invention affords an advantage in that air conditioning control matching the perception of vehicle occupants can be performed with simple processing.
- Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to this embodiment.
- the vehicle air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioner") 50 is configured mainly having an HVAC 10, which is an air conditioning unit that performs air conditioning such as cooling, heating, etc., a refrigerant system (not shown) that supplies the air conditioning unit with refrigerant, a heating source system (not shown), which supplies the air conditioning unit with engine-cooling water that serves as a heat source, and a controller 40 that performs control for the operation of the apparatus as a whole.
- the cabin interior of a vehicle in which such an air conditioner is installed is split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, wherein independent air conditioning control is possible for individual air-conditioned zones. As shown in Fig.
- this embodiment assumes a case in which the cabin interior is divided into two along an axial line parallel to the running direction of the vehicle, thereby splitting the cabin interior into a first air-conditioned zone 201 on the driver-seat side and a second air-conditioned zone 202 on the passenger-seat side.
- the HVAC 10 is configured having various devices such as a blower 12, an evaporator 13, a heater core 14, etc. in a main body casing 11.
- the main body casing 11 is provided with an external-air introducing port 21 and an internal-air introducing port 22 that are air-intake ports for selectively introducing the air outside the vehicle cabin (external air) and the air inside the vehicle cabin (internal air), and is provided with a defrosting vent (not shown), face vents 2L and 2R and a foot vent 5 for the driver-seat side, and face vents 3L and 3R and a foot vent 6 for the passenger-seat side, as air vents for blowing out air conditioned cool air, warm air, etc. into the vehicle cabin in accordance with the operating mode.
- the air outside the vehicle cabin (external air) and the air inside the vehicle cabin (internal air) introduced from the air intake ports will be referred to as "introduced air” as a whole.
- the HVAC 10 is provided with air-mixing dampers 32 and 33 for each air-conditioned zone.
- a first air-conditioned zone flow path 24 and a second air-conditioned zone flow path 25, which are separated by a partition plate 15, each have a vent to which a damper is attached the controller 40 can perform different air conditioning control independently for each of the air-conditioned zones.
- This flow path 23 has the blower 12 downstream of the external air introducing port 21 and the internal air introducing port 22, and, furthermore, the evaporator 13 and the heater core 14 are sequentially disposed therein from an upstream side in the flow direction, with a predetermined gap therebetween.
- the flow path 23 is divided by the partition plate 15 into a driver-seat side flow path 24 and a passenger-seat side flow path 25.
- the heater core 14 is provided with the air-mixing dampers 32 and 33 that perform distribution and flow-path switching of the introduced air that has flowed through the flow path 23. That is, the air-mixing dampers 32 and 33, in accordance with the operated positions and degrees of opening thereof, have a function of adjusting the flow of the introduced air, such as distributing between the volume of the introduced air that flows through the heater core 14 and the volume of the introduced air that bypasses the heater core 14, performing flow-path switching between a state in which the whole volume of the introduced air flows through the heater core 14 and a state in which the whole volume of the introduced air bypasses the heater core 14.
- a mixing ratio between cooled air that has passed through the evaporator 13 and warmed air that has passed through the heater core 14 is changed by controlling the degree of opening of the air-mixing dampers 32 and 33, thereby making it possible to adjust the blowout temperature of the air conditioned air that blows out into the vehicle cabin from the air vents.
- the driver-seat side flow path 24 is provided with the face vents 2L and 2R, the foot vent 5, and the defrost vent, to each of which a damper is attached.
- the dampers attached to the face vents 2L and 2R are referred to as driver-seat face dampers 34, and the damper attached to the foot vent 5 is referred to as a driver-seat foot damper 35.
- the passenger-seat side flow path 25 is provided with the face vents 3L and 3R, the foot vent 6, and the defrost vent, described above, to each of which a damper is attached.
- the dampers attached to the face vents 3L and 3R are referred to as passenger-seat face dampers 36, and the damper attached to the foot vent 6 is referred to as a passenger-seat foot damper 37.
- the air conditioner 50 is provided with an outdoor-air temperature sensor 41 that detects the temperature outside the vehicle cabin, a cabin-temperature sensor 42 that detects the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, and a solar radiation sensor 43 that detects the solar radiation level.
- the controller 40 is a so-called computer system and is formed by being provided with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a main storage device 2 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., an auxiliary storage device 3 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc., and a communication unit 4 that performs communication with external devices and the like.
- Various programs (vehicle air conditioning programs) are stored in the auxiliary storage device 3, and the CPU 1 reads out the programs from the auxiliary storage device 3 to the main storage device 2 such as the RAM, etc. to execute them, thereby realizing various processing.
- the controller 40 is electrically connected to the outdoor-air temperature sensor 41, the cabin-temperature sensor 42, and the solar radiation sensor 43 shown in Fig. 1 and receives detected values input from the respective sensors.
- the controller 40 is also connected to various switches (not shown) with which occupants perform various settings such as the temperature setting, operation mode, etc. Then, upon receiving detected values and control instructions for the settings, the controller 40 executes operation control of the air conditioner on the basis of control programs assigned in advance. Specific operation control includes turning the air conditioning operation on/off, air flow control of the blower 12, open/close control of various dampers, and so on.
- Fig. 4 is a function block diagram showing, in expanded fashion, the functions realized by the controller 40.
- the controller 40 is provided with a judging unit 100, a first controller 101, and a second controller 102 and performs air conditioning control in accordance with solar radiation information, which is information about the solar radiation level, the angle of the sunlight, etc. of each air-conditioned zone measured by the solar radiation sensor.
- the solar radiation sensor 43 measures solar radiation levels individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other.
- This embodiment employs a solar radiation sensor which has a first measuring unit on the drive-seat side for measuring the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone 201 and a second measuring unit on the passenger-seat side for measuring the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone 202, which are built into a single housing.
- the solar radiation sensor 43 is disposed for example, in the vehicle cabin at a substantially center position at the inner side of a front windshield. The disposition position may be at the center of the front windshield, slightly skewed toward the driver-seat side or slightly skewed toward the passenger-seat side.
- the sensor is disposed at the front of the vehicle, it may be disposed at the back thereof.
- the judging unit 100 judges whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level in the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level in the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range. Specifically, a difference between the solar radiation level measured by the first measuring unit on the driver-seat side and the solar radiation level measured by the second measuring unit on the passenger-seat side is computed, and it is judged whether or not the difference falls within the predetermined range. As a result of this, if the difference falls within the predetermined range, for example, if the absolute value of the difference is between 0 and 100 mW/m 2 , it is judged that the perceptions in the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone are the same.
- the first controller 101 performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone. Specifically, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the air-conditioned zone with a greater solar radiation level is selected as a first reference zone, and the air conditioning control of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone is performed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the selected first reference zone.
- the first controller 101 selects the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone as the first reference zone, computes a control value for the driver-seat side on the basis of the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side, and performs identical air conditioning control for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side on the basis of this control value.
- the second controller 102 performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone. Specifically, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the second controller 102 selects one air-conditioned zone as a second reference zone and defines the solar radiation level of the second reference zone as a standard solar radiation level. A control value for air conditioning control of the second reference zone is determined on the basis of this standard solar radiation level. Subsequently, a control value for the other air-conditioned zone is computed by correcting the control value for the second reference zone on the basis of the difference between the standard solar radiation level and the solar radiation level of the other air-conditioned zone.
- the second controller 102 selects the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone as the second reference zone. Then, the solar radiation level on the driver-seat side is defined as the standard solar radiation level, and a control value for the driver-seat side is determined on the basis of the standard solar radiation level. Subsequently, a control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by correcting the control value for the driver-seat side on the basis of the difference between the solar radiation level for the driver-seat side and the solar radiation level for the passenger-seat side.
- control value of the other air-conditioned zone is determined by correcting the air conditioning control value for the second reference zone on the basis of the difference between the solar radiation level of the second reference zone and the solar radiation level of the other air-conditioned zone, air conditioning control of a plurality of air-conditioned zones can be easily performed.
- Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the operation flow of the air conditioning control performed by the controller 40 described above. The following flow will be described assuming the case in which the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone is selected as the second reference zone.
- the solar radiation sensor 43 measures respective solar radiation levels of the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, and the judging unit 100 computes the difference between the solar radiation levels of the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side and judges whether or not the difference exceeds a first predetermined value (Step SA1 in Fig. 5 ).
- the first controller 101 compares the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side and the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side and selects the air-conditioned zone with a larger value as the first reference zone (Step SA3). Then, the air conditioning value is computed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the first reference zone, and air conditioning control based on this air conditioning control value is performed for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side (Step SA4), whereupon this processing ends.
- the judging unit 100 selects the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone as the second reference zone and, in addition, the solar radiation level for this air-conditioned zone is set as a reference solar radiation level. Then, the control value for the second reference zone is determined on the basis of the solar radiation level of the second reference zone, that is, the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side (Step SA2).
- the second predetermined value is a parameter provided to adjust the control value for the driver-seat side and the control value for the passenger-seat side and is an arbitrarily set value. In this embodiment, for example, it is set at 100 W/m 2 .
- Step SA6 the control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by adding this correction amount to the above-described control value for the driver-seat side (Step SA6), and the air conditioning control for the passenger-seat side is performed on the basis of this control value (Step SA7) , whereupon this processing ends.
- Step SA7 the air conditioning control for the passenger-seat side is performed on the basis of this control value.
- Step SA5 if the solar radiation level for the driver-seat side is less than the solar radiation level for the passenger-seat side, the calculation "driver-seat-side solar radiation level - passenger-seat-side solar radiation level + third predetermined value" is performed, thereby computing the correction amount for the passenger-seat side.
- the third predetermined value is a parameter provided to adjust the control value for the driver-seat side and the control value for the passenger-seat side and is an arbitrarily set value. In this embodiment, for example, it is set at 100 W/m 2 .
- the control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by adding this correction amount to the above-described control value for the driver-seat side (Step SA8), and the air conditioning control for the passenger-seat side is performed on the basis of this control value (Step SA9), whereupon this processing ends.
- Step SA8 the control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by adding this correction amount to the above-described control value for the driver-seat side
- Step SA9 the air conditioning control for the passenger-seat side is performed on the basis of this control value
- the control value for the passenger-seat side is determined on the basis of the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side, and the control value for the passenger-seat side is corrected in accordance with the difference between the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side and the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side, thereby determining the control value for the driver-seat side.
- the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value may be changed depending on the outdoor temperature (season) and blowout mode.
- the second predetermined value and the third predetermined value need not be the same value as the above-described first predetermined value. Accordingly, finer air conditioning control becomes possible.
- the solar radiation sensor which measures the solar radiation levels individually for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, which are adjacent air-conditioned zones, is used to judge whether or not the difference in the solar radiation level between the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side falls within the predetermined range.
- the difference falls within the predetermined range, identical air conditioning control is performed for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, thereby making it possible to perform temperature-adjustment control for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, where the perceived solar radiation is nearly equivalent, so as not to cause a temperature difference.
- the judgment is made, allowing some margin, by measuring whether or not the difference falls within a range of predetermined output values. Accordingly, individual differences of the solar radiation sensors can be tolerated.
- the second controller 102 in this embodiment sets the correction amount for the passenger-seat side on the basis of the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side, which is the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level, it is not limited thereto.
- independent solar radiation correction may be executed individually for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side on the basis of respective input values for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side from the solar radiation sensor.
- a single solar radiation sensor is provided with the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit that measure the solar radiation levels of the individual air-conditioned zones; however, it is not limited thereto.
- solar radiation sensors that measure the solar radiation level of each air-conditioned zone may be provided for the individual air-conditioned zones.
- a single solar radiation sensor is provided with the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit that measure the solar radiation levels of the individual air-conditioned zones; however, it is not limited thereto.
- solar radiation sensors that measure the solar radiation level of each air-conditioned zone may be provided for the individual air-conditioned zones.
- the driver-seat side will be selected as the second reference zone
- an air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level may be selected as the second reference zone.
- air conditioning control according to this embodiment has been applied to cooling as the operating mode, it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be applied to heating.
- This embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that the solar radiation sensor outputs the incident angle of the sunlight as an output and that the judging unit makes judgment on the basis of the incident angle of the sunlight.
- the solar radiation sensor is provided near the border between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and outputs the incident angle of the sunlight upon itself.
- the judging unit When the incident angle of the sunlight, which is the output from the solar radiation sensor, falls within a predetermined range, with zero degree defined with reference to itself, for example, within a range between - ⁇ and + ⁇ (for example, from -45° to +45° centered on itself), the judging unit considers the perceived temperature as nearly equal in the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, and when the incident angle does not fall within the range between - ⁇ and + ⁇ (for example, from -45° to +45° centered on itself), it is considered that a difference occurs in the perceived temperature between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone.
- the first controller When the incident angle falls within the predetermined range, the first controller performs the same air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, and when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range, the second controller performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone.
- the details of the air conditioning control by the first controller and the second controller are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.
- the vehicle air conditioner 50 because the angle of the sunlight input to the solar radiation sensor is used to judge whether or not the direction of solar radiation is near the boundary, consequently, it becomes possible to easily judge the direction of the solar radiation.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner and to a control method and program for a vehicle air conditioner.
- Conventionally, in a vehicle such as a passenger vehicle or the like, a vehicle air conditioner has been realized that is capable of independently controlling the temperature of air-conditioned zones, which split a vehicle cabin interior into right and left sides, for example, a driver-seat side and a passenger-seat side, according to preferences of the occupants. As a system for independently controlling air conditioning of the air-conditioned zones split into right and left sides, Heating Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Systems (herein after abbreviated as HVAC) have been known, among which is a vehicle air conditioner that employs an uneven-solar-radiation sensor to independently perform air conditioning for the right and left zones in accordance with uneven solar radiation. Here, the blowout temperature and air flow level for the right and left zones are controlled depending on the solar radiation, etc. of the right and left zones. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No.
Hei 01-136811 -
- {PTL1} Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No.
Hei 01-136811 - However, in the invention of the above-described Patent Literature 1, many computations are necessary to obtain the correction value of the air conditioning temperature for the right and left air-conditioned zones, and there is a problem in that processing thereof is complicated.
In addition, because the size of the sun is large and its distance from the vehicle is large, the perceived temperature for the occupants does not change even if the direction of the solar radiation is slightly shifted from the center. In spite of this, the invention disclosed in Patent Literature 1 finely controls the air conditioning system even when the direction of the solar radiation shifts slightly from the center, and there is a problem in that the blowout temperature ends up being changed frequently. - The present invention has been conceived to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle air conditioner that makes it possible to perform air conditioning control matching the perception of vehicle occupants with simple processing, as well as a control method and program for the vehicle air conditioner.
- In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention employs the following solutions.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a solar radiation sensor that measures solar radiation levels individually for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other; a judging unit that judges whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range; a first controller that performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; and a second controller that performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range. - With such a configuration, of the plurality of air-conditioned zones splitting the vehicle cabin interior, the solar radiation sensor individually measures the solar radiation levels of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and the judging unit judges whether or not the difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone measured by the solar radiation sensor falls within the predetermined range. When this difference falls within the predetermined range, identical air conditioning control is performed for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and when the difference falls outside the predetermined range, independent air conditioning control is performed individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone.
Accordingly, when the perception of the solar radiation is nearly equivalent in the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, it is possible not to cause a temperature difference in air conditioning, and, in addition, when the perception of the solar radiation differs between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, it is possible to perform air conditioning control appropriate for the state of air conditioning in each air-conditioned zone. - In the above-described vehicle air conditioner, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the first controller may select the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level as a first reference zone and may perform the air conditioning control of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone on the basis of the solar radiation level of the first reference zone.
- In this way, because air conditioning control for the individual air-conditioned zones is performed using the solar radiation level for the air-conditioned zone with the higher solar radiation level as a reference, temperature can be easily corrected for the individual air-conditioned zones.
- In the above-described vehicle air conditioner, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the second controller may select one zone as a second reference zone and may perform the air conditioning control for the other air-conditioned zone on the basis of the solar radiation level of the second reference zone.
- In this way, because one of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone is selected as the second reference zone, and air conditioning control for the other air-conditioned zone is performed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the second reference zone, the temperature can be easily corrected.
- In the above-described vehicle air conditioner, the second controller may select the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level as the second reference zone.
- Accordingly, control can be performed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the air-conditioned zone for which the solar radiation level is high and is assumed to feel uncomfortable.
- A second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a solar radiation sensor that is provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and that measures an incident angle of sunlight; a judging unit that judges whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range; a first controller that performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; and a second controller that performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- With such a configuration, the solar radiation sensor measures the incident angle of the sunlight near the boundary between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and the judging unit judges whether or not this incident angle falls within the predetermined range. When the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range, identical air conditioning control is performed for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range, independent air conditioning control is performed individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone. Accordingly, when substantially equal levels of sunshine are entering the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone and it is assumed that perceived temperatures therein are substantially equivalent, frequent changes in air conditioning can be prevented by applying shared air conditioning control to both air-conditioned zones, and when it cannot be assumed that the perceived temperature is substantially equivalent, it is possible to perform air conditioning control appropriate for the state of air conditioning in each air-conditioned zone. The above-described predetermined range is, for example, angles of -45° to +45°.
- A third aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a step of measuring solar radiation levels individually for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range; a first controlling step of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; and a second controlling step of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner program that is a control program applied to a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, which is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, and that causes a computer to execute judgment processing in which solar radiation levels are individually measured for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and it is judged whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range; first control processing of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; and second control processing of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, including a step of measuring an incident angle of sunlight, provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which is adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range; a first controlling step of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; and a second controlling step of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner program that is a control program applied to a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, which is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, and that causes a computer to execute judgment processing of measuring an incident angle of sunlight, provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range; first control processing of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; and second control processing of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- The present invention affords an advantage in that air conditioning control matching the perception of vehicle occupants can be performed with simple processing.
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- {
Fig. 1} Fig. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. - {
Fig. 2} Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining vehicle air-conditioned zones according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - {
Fig. 3} Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example hardware configuration of the vehicle air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - {
Fig. 4} Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of a controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - {
Fig. 5} Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a judging unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - An embodiment of a vehicle air conditioner and a control method and program for the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention will be described below, with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment will be described assuming a cooling mode.
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Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to this embodiment.
The vehicle air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioner") 50 is configured mainly having anHVAC 10, which is an air conditioning unit that performs air conditioning such as cooling, heating, etc., a refrigerant system (not shown) that supplies the air conditioning unit with refrigerant, a heating source system (not shown), which supplies the air conditioning unit with engine-cooling water that serves as a heat source, and acontroller 40 that performs control for the operation of the apparatus as a whole.
The cabin interior of a vehicle in which such an air conditioner is installed is split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, wherein independent air conditioning control is possible for individual air-conditioned zones. As shown inFig. 2 , this embodiment assumes a case in which the cabin interior is divided into two along an axial line parallel to the running direction of the vehicle, thereby splitting the cabin interior into a first air-conditionedzone 201 on the driver-seat side and a second air-conditionedzone 202 on the passenger-seat side. - The HVAC 10 is configured having various devices such as a
blower 12, anevaporator 13, aheater core 14, etc. in amain body casing 11.
Themain body casing 11 is provided with an external-air introducing port 21 and an internal-air introducing port 22 that are air-intake ports for selectively introducing the air outside the vehicle cabin (external air) and the air inside the vehicle cabin (internal air), and is provided with a defrosting vent (not shown),face vents foot vent 5 for the driver-seat side, andface vents
TheHVAC 10 is provided with air-mixing dampers zone flow path 24 and a second air-conditionedzone flow path 25, which are separated by apartition plate 15, each have a vent to which a damper is attached, thecontroller 40 can perform different air conditioning control independently for each of the air-conditioned zones. - A
flow path 23, through which the introduced air of the external air or the internal air flows by operation of an internal/externalair switching damper 31 to perform air conditioning, is formed inside themain body casing 11. Thisflow path 23 has theblower 12 downstream of the externalair introducing port 21 and the internalair introducing port 22, and, furthermore, theevaporator 13 and theheater core 14 are sequentially disposed therein from an upstream side in the flow direction, with a predetermined gap therebetween.
At the downstream side of theheater core 14, theflow path 23 is divided by thepartition plate 15 into a driver-seatside flow path 24 and a passenger-seatside flow path 25. - In addition, the
heater core 14 is provided with the air-mixing dampers flow path 23. That is, the air-mixing dampers heater core 14 and the volume of the introduced air that bypasses theheater core 14, performing flow-path switching between a state in which the whole volume of the introduced air flows through theheater core 14 and a state in which the whole volume of the introduced air bypasses theheater core 14. Therefore, a mixing ratio between cooled air that has passed through theevaporator 13 and warmed air that has passed through theheater core 14 is changed by controlling the degree of opening of the air-mixingdampers - The driver-seat
side flow path 24 is provided with theface vents foot vent 5, and the defrost vent, to each of which a damper is attached. The dampers attached to the face vents 2L and 2R are referred to as driver-seat face dampers 34, and the damper attached to thefoot vent 5 is referred to as a driver-seat foot damper 35.
Similarly, the passenger-seatside flow path 25 is provided with the face vents 3L and 3R, the foot vent 6, and the defrost vent, described above, to each of which a damper is attached. The dampers attached to the face vents 3L and 3R are referred to as passenger-seat face dampers 36, and the damper attached to the foot vent 6 is referred to as a passenger-seat foot damper 37.
In addition, theair conditioner 50 is provided with an outdoor-air temperature sensor 41 that detects the temperature outside the vehicle cabin, a cabin-temperature sensor 42 that detects the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, and asolar radiation sensor 43 that detects the solar radiation level. - As shown in
Fig. 3 , thecontroller 40 is a so-called computer system and is formed by being provided with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, amain storage device 2 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., an auxiliary storage device 3 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc., and acommunication unit 4 that performs communication with external devices and the like. Various programs (vehicle air conditioning programs) are stored in the auxiliary storage device 3, and the CPU 1 reads out the programs from the auxiliary storage device 3 to themain storage device 2 such as the RAM, etc. to execute them, thereby realizing various processing. - The
controller 40 is electrically connected to the outdoor-air temperature sensor 41, the cabin-temperature sensor 42, and thesolar radiation sensor 43 shown inFig. 1 and receives detected values input from the respective sensors. In addition, thecontroller 40 is also connected to various switches (not shown) with which occupants perform various settings such as the temperature setting, operation mode, etc. Then, upon receiving detected values and control instructions for the settings, thecontroller 40 executes operation control of the air conditioner on the basis of control programs assigned in advance. Specific operation control includes turning the air conditioning operation on/off, air flow control of theblower 12, open/close control of various dampers, and so on. -
Fig. 4 is a function block diagram showing, in expanded fashion, the functions realized by thecontroller 40. As shown inFig. 4 , thecontroller 40 is provided with a judgingunit 100, afirst controller 101, and asecond controller 102 and performs air conditioning control in accordance with solar radiation information, which is information about the solar radiation level, the angle of the sunlight, etc. of each air-conditioned zone measured by the solar radiation sensor. - The
solar radiation sensor 43 measures solar radiation levels individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other. This embodiment employs a solar radiation sensor which has a first measuring unit on the drive-seat side for measuring the solar radiation level of the first air-conditionedzone 201 and a second measuring unit on the passenger-seat side for measuring the solar radiation level of the second air-conditionedzone 202, which are built into a single housing.
As shown inFig. 2 , thesolar radiation sensor 43 is disposed for example, in the vehicle cabin at a substantially center position at the inner side of a front windshield. The disposition position may be at the center of the front windshield, slightly skewed toward the driver-seat side or slightly skewed toward the passenger-seat side. In addition, although the sensor is disposed at the front of the vehicle, it may be disposed at the back thereof. - In the
controller 40, the judgingunit 100 judges whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level in the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level in the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range. Specifically, a difference between the solar radiation level measured by the first measuring unit on the driver-seat side and the solar radiation level measured by the second measuring unit on the passenger-seat side is computed, and it is judged whether or not the difference falls within the predetermined range. As a result of this, if the difference falls within the predetermined range, for example, if the absolute value of the difference is between 0 and 100 mW/m2, it is judged that the perceptions in the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone are the same. - When the judging
unit 100 judges that the difference falls within the predetermined range, thefirst controller 101 performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone. Specifically, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the air-conditioned zone with a greater solar radiation level is selected as a first reference zone, and the air conditioning control of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone is performed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the selected first reference zone. - For example, when the solar radiation level on the driver-seat side is greater than the solar radiation level on the passenger-seat side, the
first controller 101 selects the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone as the first reference zone, computes a control value for the driver-seat side on the basis of the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side, and performs identical air conditioning control for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side on the basis of this control value. - When the judging
unit 100 judges that the difference falls outside the predetermined range, thesecond controller 102 performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone.
Specifically, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, thesecond controller 102 selects one air-conditioned zone as a second reference zone and defines the solar radiation level of the second reference zone as a standard solar radiation level. A control value for air conditioning control of the second reference zone is determined on the basis of this standard solar radiation level. Subsequently, a control value for the other air-conditioned zone is computed by correcting the control value for the second reference zone on the basis of the difference between the standard solar radiation level and the solar radiation level of the other air-conditioned zone. - For example, when it is registered in advance that the driver-seat side will be selected as the second reference zone, the
second controller 102 selects the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone as the second reference zone. Then, the solar radiation level on the driver-seat side is defined as the standard solar radiation level, and a control value for the driver-seat side is determined on the basis of the standard solar radiation level. Subsequently, a control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by correcting the control value for the driver-seat side on the basis of the difference between the solar radiation level for the driver-seat side and the solar radiation level for the passenger-seat side. - In this way, because the control value of the other air-conditioned zone is determined by correcting the air conditioning control value for the second reference zone on the basis of the difference between the solar radiation level of the second reference zone and the solar radiation level of the other air-conditioned zone, air conditioning control of a plurality of air-conditioned zones can be easily performed.
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Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the operation flow of the air conditioning control performed by thecontroller 40 described above. The following flow will be described assuming the case in which the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone is selected as the second reference zone.
Thesolar radiation sensor 43 measures respective solar radiation levels of the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, and the judgingunit 100 computes the difference between the solar radiation levels of the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side and judges whether or not the difference exceeds a first predetermined value (Step SA1 inFig. 5 ). If the first predetermined value is not exceeded, thefirst controller 101 compares the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side and the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side and selects the air-conditioned zone with a larger value as the first reference zone (Step SA3). Then, the air conditioning value is computed on the basis of the solar radiation level of the first reference zone, and air conditioning control based on this air conditioning control value is performed for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side (Step SA4), whereupon this processing ends. - On the other hand, if the difference between the solar radiation levels of the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side exceeds the first predetermined value, the judging
unit 100 selects the driver-seat-side air-conditioned zone as the second reference zone and, in addition, the solar radiation level for this air-conditioned zone is set as a reference solar radiation level. Then, the control value for the second reference zone is determined on the basis of the solar radiation level of the second reference zone, that is, the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side (Step SA2). Subsequently, magnitudes of the solar radiation levels are compared between the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side (Step SA5), and if the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side is greater than the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side, the calculation "driver-seat-side solar radiation level - passenger-seat-side solar radiation level - second predetermined value" is performed, thereby computing the correction amount for the passenger-seat side. Here, the second predetermined value is a parameter provided to adjust the control value for the driver-seat side and the control value for the passenger-seat side and is an arbitrarily set value. In this embodiment, for example, it is set at 100 W/m2. Subsequently, the control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by adding this correction amount to the above-described control value for the driver-seat side (Step SA6), and the air conditioning control for the passenger-seat side is performed on the basis of this control value (Step SA7) , whereupon this processing ends. As a result of this, for example, the blowout temperature for the passenger-seat side is raised, thereby suppressing the cooling effect for the passenger-seat side. - Furthermore, in Step SA5, if the solar radiation level for the driver-seat side is less than the solar radiation level for the passenger-seat side, the calculation "driver-seat-side solar radiation level - passenger-seat-side solar radiation level + third predetermined value" is performed, thereby computing the correction amount for the passenger-seat side. Here, the third predetermined value is a parameter provided to adjust the control value for the driver-seat side and the control value for the passenger-seat side and is an arbitrarily set value. In this embodiment, for example, it is set at 100 W/m2. Subsequently, the control value for the passenger-seat side is computed by adding this correction amount to the above-described control value for the driver-seat side (Step SA8), and the air conditioning control for the passenger-seat side is performed on the basis of this control value (Step SA9), whereupon this processing ends. As a result of this, for example, the blowout temperature for the passenger-seat side is lowered, thereby increasing the cooling effect for the passenger-seat side.
- In the above description, the case in which the driver-seat side is set as the second reference zone has been described; however, the passenger-seat side may be set as the second reference zone. In this case, the control value for the passenger-seat side is determined on the basis of the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side, and the control value for the passenger-seat side is corrected in accordance with the difference between the solar radiation level of the passenger-seat side and the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side, thereby determining the control value for the driver-seat side.
In addition, in the above-described flow, the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value may be changed depending on the outdoor temperature (season) and blowout mode. Furthermore, the second predetermined value and the third predetermined value need not be the same value as the above-described first predetermined value. Accordingly, finer air conditioning control becomes possible. - As has been described above, in the air conditioning control according to this embodiment, of the air-conditioned zones splitting the vehicle cabin interior into a plurality of zones, the solar radiation sensor, which measures the solar radiation levels individually for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, which are adjacent air-conditioned zones, is used to judge whether or not the difference in the solar radiation level between the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side falls within the predetermined range. When the difference falls within the predetermined range, identical air conditioning control is performed for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, thereby making it possible to perform temperature-adjustment control for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side, where the perceived solar radiation is nearly equivalent, so as not to cause a temperature difference. In addition, when the difference falls outside the predetermined range, independent air conditioning control is performed individually for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side. Accordingly, for the air-conditioned zones where the perceived solar radiation differs, it becomes possible to perform air conditioning appropriate for the individual air-conditioned zones.
- Furthermore, with the control by the controller according to this embodiment, because identical air conditioning control is performed for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side when the difference in the solar radiation level between the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side falls within the predetermined range, even when the perceptions on the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side are the same, gaps in the differences between the blowout temperature and the perception, which has occurred when the blowout temperature is controlled in accordance with uneven solar radiation, can be eliminated.
- Furthermore, when judging whether or not the difference in the solar radiation level between the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side falls within the predetermined range, the judgment is made, allowing some margin, by measuring whether or not the difference falls within a range of predetermined output values. Accordingly, individual differences of the solar radiation sensors can be tolerated.
- Although the
second controller 102 in this embodiment sets the correction amount for the passenger-seat side on the basis of the solar radiation level of the driver-seat side, which is the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level, it is not limited thereto. For example, when the relevant difference is at or above the predetermined value, independent solar radiation correction may be executed individually for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side on the basis of respective input values for the driver-seat side and the passenger-seat side from the solar radiation sensor. - In the vehicle air conditioner according to this embodiment, when measuring the solar radiation levels of the individual air-conditioned zones, a single solar radiation sensor is provided with the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit that measure the solar radiation levels of the individual air-conditioned zones; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, solar radiation sensors that measure the solar radiation level of each air-conditioned zone may be provided for the individual air-conditioned zones.
- In the vehicle air conditioner according to this embodiment, when measuring the solar radiation levels of the individual air-conditioned zones, a single solar radiation sensor is provided with the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit that measure the solar radiation levels of the individual air-conditioned zones; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, solar radiation sensors that measure the solar radiation level of each air-conditioned zone may be provided for the individual air-conditioned zones.
- In addition, although, in the air conditioning control according to this embodiment, it is registered in advance that the driver-seat side will be selected as the second reference zone, it is not limited thereto. For example, an air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level may be selected as the second reference zone.
- Furthermore, although the air conditioning control according to this embodiment has been applied to cooling as the operating mode, it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be applied to heating.
- Next, air conditioning control according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that the solar radiation sensor outputs the incident angle of the sunlight as an output and that the judging unit makes judgment on the basis of the incident angle of the sunlight.
Specifically, in this embodiment, the solar radiation sensor is provided near the border between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and outputs the incident angle of the sunlight upon itself. When the incident angle of the sunlight, which is the output from the solar radiation sensor, falls within a predetermined range, with zero degree defined with reference to itself, for example, within a range between -α and +α (for example, from -45° to +45° centered on itself), the judging unit considers the perceived temperature as nearly equal in the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, and when the incident angle does not fall within the range between -α and +α (for example, from -45° to +45° centered on itself), it is considered that a difference occurs in the perceived temperature between the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone. - When the incident angle falls within the predetermined range, the first controller performs the same air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, and when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range, the second controller performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone. The details of the air conditioning control by the first controller and the second controller are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.
- In this way, with the
vehicle air conditioner 50 according to this embodiment, because the angle of the sunlight input to the solar radiation sensor is used to judge whether or not the direction of solar radiation is near the boundary, consequently, it becomes possible to easily judge the direction of the solar radiation. -
- 10: air conditioning unit (HVAC)
- 12: blower
- 13: evaporator
- 14: heater core
- 15: partition plate
- 24: driver-seat-side flow path
- 25: passenger-seat-side flow path
- 31: internal-external air exchange damper
- 32, 33: air mixing damper
- 40: controller
- 43: solar radiation sensor
- 50: vehicle air conditioner
- 100: judging unit
- 101: first controller
- 102: second controller
- 201: first air-conditioned zone
- 202: second air-conditioned zone
Claims (9)
- A vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, comprising:a solar radiation sensor that measures solar radiation levels individually for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other;a judging unit that judges whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range;a first controller that performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; anda second controller that performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- A vehicle air conditioner according to Claim 1, wherein, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the first controller selects the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level as a first reference zone and performs the air conditioning control of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone on the basis of the solar radiation level of the first reference zone.
- A vehicle air conditioner according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein, of the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone, the second controller selects one zone as a second reference zone and performs the air conditioning control for the other air-conditioned zone on the basis of the solar radiation level of the second reference zone.
- A vehicle air conditioner according to Claim 3, wherein the second controller selects the air-conditioned zone with a higher solar radiation level as the second reference zone.
- A vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, comprising:a solar radiation sensor that is provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adj acent to each other, and that measures an incident angle of sunlight;a judging unit that judges whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range;a first controller that performs identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; anda second controller that performs independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- A control method for a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, comprising:a step of measuring solar radiation levels individually for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range;a first controlling step of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; anda second controlling step of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- A vehicle air conditioner program that is a control program applied to a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, which is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, and that causes a computer to execute:judgment processing in which solar radiation levels are individually measured for a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and it is judged whether or not a difference between the solar radiation level of the first air-conditioned zone and the solar radiation level of the second air-conditioned zone falls within a predetermined range;first control processing of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls within the predetermined range; andsecond control processing of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the difference falls outside the predetermined range.
- A control method for a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, that is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, comprising:a step of measuring an incident angle of sunlight, provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which is adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range;a first controlling step of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; anda second controlling step of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
- A vehicle air conditioner program that is a control program applied to a vehicle air conditioner for a vehicle cabin interior split into a plurality of air-conditioned zones, which is capable of independent air conditioning control for individual air-conditioned zones, and that causes a computer to execute:judgment processing of measuring an incident angle of sunlight, provided near a boundary between a first air-conditioned zone and a second air-conditioned zone, which are adjacent to each other, and judging whether or not the incident angle of the sunlight detected by the solar radiation sensor falls within a predetermined range;first control processing of performing identical air conditioning control for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls within the predetermined range; andsecond control processing of performing independent air conditioning control individually for the first air-conditioned zone and the second air-conditioned zone when the incident angle of the sunlight falls outside the predetermined range.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP13180066.6A EP2666653B1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Vehicle air conditioner and control method and program for vehicle air conditioner |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2008264338A JP5344883B2 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2008-10-10 | VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER, CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER |
PCT/JP2009/067637 WO2010041738A1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Air conditioning device for vehicle, and method and program for controlling air conditioning device for vehicle |
Related Child Applications (2)
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EP13180066.6A Division EP2666653B1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Vehicle air conditioner and control method and program for vehicle air conditioner |
EP13180066.6A Division-Into EP2666653B1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Vehicle air conditioner and control method and program for vehicle air conditioner |
Publications (3)
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EP2332757A1 true EP2332757A1 (en) | 2011-06-15 |
EP2332757A4 EP2332757A4 (en) | 2012-08-15 |
EP2332757B1 EP2332757B1 (en) | 2014-12-10 |
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EP13180066.6A Active EP2666653B1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Vehicle air conditioner and control method and program for vehicle air conditioner |
EP09819271.9A Active EP2332757B1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Air conditioning device for vehicle, and method and program for controlling air conditioning device for vehicle |
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EP13180066.6A Active EP2666653B1 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-10-09 | Vehicle air conditioner and control method and program for vehicle air conditioner |
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US (1) | US8744673B2 (en) |
EP (2) | EP2666653B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5344883B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010041738A1 (en) |
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CN104571137A (en) * | 2013-10-07 | 2015-04-29 | 通用汽车环球科技运作有限责任公司 | System and method for compensating for solar load |
EP4026711A1 (en) * | 2021-01-12 | 2022-07-13 | Volvo Truck Corporation | A method for regulating a thermal control system of a cabin of a vehicle |
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US8694205B1 (en) | 2013-01-23 | 2014-04-08 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Multi-zone demist strategy |
KR101673824B1 (en) * | 2015-12-01 | 2016-11-07 | 현대자동차주식회사 | System for controlling air flap of commercial bus |
CN106864205B (en) * | 2017-03-31 | 2019-12-10 | 徐州皇浦世味食品有限公司 | Temperature compensation method and system of solar air conditioner for vehicle |
CN107719064B (en) * | 2017-10-11 | 2021-04-06 | 东北大学 | Vehicle-mounted intelligent temperature control system |
JP2019188894A (en) * | 2018-04-20 | 2019-10-31 | マツダ株式会社 | Air-conditioning control device for vehicle |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8744673B2 (en) | 2014-06-03 |
EP2666653A1 (en) | 2013-11-27 |
EP2666653B1 (en) | 2016-12-07 |
US20110160958A1 (en) | 2011-06-30 |
EP2332757A4 (en) | 2012-08-15 |
JP2010089748A (en) | 2010-04-22 |
JP5344883B2 (en) | 2013-11-20 |
WO2010041738A1 (en) | 2010-04-15 |
EP2332757B1 (en) | 2014-12-10 |
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